Rocking-chair



,oas. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

perJlZuVzia mam (N0 Model.) 2Shets-Shet 2. J. M; AUSMAIT.

(ROCKING CHAIR. No. 505,083." Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

FIGJO- fl I a m F|G-3- FiG-a- UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASPER M. AUSMAN, or I-IERKIMER, NnwYoaK.

ROCKING-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lPatent No. 505,083, dated September 19, 1893.

Application filed February 23, 1893. Serial No. 463,405. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JASPER M. AUsMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Herkimer, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Rocking-Chair, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in chairs, and particularly to that class thereof known as spring-rockers which are mounted and adapted to rock upon a stationary base, and which are maintained in position through the medium of a spring-connection between the base and rockers.

The objects of my invention are to provide a cheap and simple foot-attachment or rest mounted within the base and adapted to be seated upon the same or withdrawn therefrom and to be adjustable in height so as to accommodate the feet of the occupant; furthermore, to so construct this foot-rest as a whole as to adapt it for lateral adjustment so that it may be turned either to the right or the left of the chair and thus accommodate itself to the position of the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the chair as to render it capable of being adjusted to reclining positions; to provide means whereby such adjustment may be readily secured by the occupant without the necessity of leaving the chair; and finally to provide means for returning the parts to their normal positions thus relieving the occupant of such necessity.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the draWings:-Figure 1 is a perspective View of a chair embodying my invention, the foot-rest being extended and back partially inclined. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, the chair being closed. Fig. 3 is a partial side elevation and section, the parts being in position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 the parts being in position as in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail of the foot-rest frame. Fig. 6 is a detail of the footrest. Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are details of parts hereinafter mentioned. Fig. 11 is a transverse section of the arm.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The base consists, in this instance, of a pair of opposite side-rails 1, at whose ends feet 2,

are provided or formed, in which are located the usual casters 3, by which the chair is made portable. The side-pieces 1 are connected near their front and rear ends by transverse rungs 4., and these rungs are themselves connected by a pair of parallel longitudinally-disp'osed rungs 5, which are spaced aslight distance apart and consequently form or constitute an intermediate slot or way. See Fig. 10.

The foot-rest frame consists of the opposite side-pieces 6, which extend parallel to each other, and are connected at their front and rear ends by means of rungs 71 The upper edges of the sides 6 are declined from the r front ends to their rear ends and have their inner faces provided with grooves 8 whose ends are disposed as at 8. The outer ends of the sides 6 are provided with short legs 9, that serve to support the outer end of the foot-rest frame. The rear rung 7 of the footrest frame is provided at its center with a depending headed pin 10, and .the same fits loosely in the way or slot formed by the parallel spaced apart rungs 5, of the base.

11 designates the foot-rest proper, and the same is provided upon its under side with a pair of transverse cleats 12, whose lower edges are inclined to correspond with the declining edges of the opposite sides 6. These cleats are connected by a transverse connecting piece 13 Whose opposite ends having intermediate recesses, producing lugs 13 take into the ways or grooves formed in the inner sides of the side-rails 6 of the foot-rest frame. The under side of the transverse cleat is provided with a stop-block 14, and the same is designed to contact with the outer end rung 7 of the foot-rest frame and hence act as a stop to prevent the entire removal or accidental displacement of the rest. that by means of the inclined grooves and declining edges of the sides of the foot-rest frame the foot rest proper may be raised and lowered by sliding the same within said grooves and hence accommodate itself to the position of the occupant of the chair and afford com- It will be observed.

fort and ease to him and can be locked at the upper end of the rest by the front lugs of the piece 13 dropping into the recesses S. It will furthermore be seen that when slid totheinner end of the foot-rest framethe'entire foot-rest may be moved rearward and slid upon the base,,the"T-shaped pin moving between thelongitudinally-disposed rungs 5 of the base and serving to guide the foot-restin position upon the base. WVhen drawn out it will be seen that the foot-rest as a whole may be swung either to the right or to the left, and the position of the occupant may be conformed to, and a person is not compelled to sit or lie straight as is the case with this class of chairs wherein the foot-rest is in alignment with the chair only and is incapable of any lateral adjustment.

15 designates the seat-frame, which frame is provided upon its under side with the rockers 16, secured thereto in any suitable position and mounted for movement upon the upper edges of the side-rails 1 of, the base. The rockers are connected to the side-rails of the base by means of any suitable spring-connection. In the present instance metal brackets 17, are secured to the rockers and side-rails at their inner sides near theirmeeting edges,

and these brackets are provided with annular seats 18, between which are interposed pairs of coiled springs 19.

Pairs of lugs 20, are secured to the upperside of the rear rail of the seat-frame, and between the same take and are pivoted the opposite side-bars 21 of the back-section 22, of the seat.

23 designates the stationary arms of the chair, and the same are securely bolted to the upper-sides of the side-rails of the seat-frame. Upon these stationaryarms rest and are adapted to move the movable arms 24, of the chair, said movable arms having their rear ends pivoted bypins 25, to the side-bars of the back-section of the chair. V-shaped springs 26, have their terminals let into openings in the movable arms and side-bars of the back-section of the chair, and at their angles said springs are coiled as shown, the tendency being to elevate the back and slide the movable arms forward upon the stationary arms. Upon the upper sides of the movable arms suitable upholstery is located so that certain securing devices hereinafter described and projecting from said movable arms are hidden from view.

The under sides of the movable arms are provided with longitudinal grooves 27, and in each of said grooves rectangular recesses 28, are formed midway the same. See Fig. 11. Metal bars 29, extend into the grooves and have their rear terminals downwardly and rearwardly bent to form securing feet 30, which are perforated and rest upon the upper-sides of the stationary-arms of the chair. Through these perforations screws 31, are passed into the stationary arms of the chair into which the said securing-feet are let. The front portions of the bars 29 are downwardly bent to form the front terminals32, which pass throughperforations 33, formed in the sta tio'eary-arms of the chair, and below the "same are threaded, at which points they are provided with clamping-nuts 34.

The grooves in the under sides of the movable arms of the chair are provided midway their ends with recesses 35, and'in said recesses there are mounted metal blocks 36, upon the upper sides of which threaded studs 37 are formed which extend up through the movble arms of the chair, are provided with nuts 38, and are hidden from view by the upholstoring upon said movable arms. The metal blocks 36 are provided with longitudinal openings 39, which are in line with and loosely receive the bars 29, so that it will be obvious the back may swing upon its pivots and in so doing the metal blocks will move over the rods 29 between their bent portions or terminals, which latter limit the pivotal movement of the back.

In the outer sides of the blocks 36 openings 40, are formed and the same correspond with lateral openings formed in the outer sides of the movable-arms of the chair. The openings 40 in the blocks are threaded and into them extend the threaded stems of bindingscrews 41, the same being provided at their outer ends with suitable circular grips adapted tobe conveniently grasped by the hand and at their inner ends adapted to impinge upon the bars 29 and thus lock the movable arms from riding upon the bars and hence the back-section of the seat against any pivotal movement.

It will be seen that a person occupying the chair may without rising therefrom or changing his position in the least grasp the heads of the binding-screws 41 and rotate the same so as to withdraw the screws from contact with the rods 29 and then by exerting his weight upon the back may recline the same to a suitable angle and by a retightening of the screws may secure said back atsaid angle, it being understood that the movable arms being pivoted to the back and loosely mounted on the rods 29 will slide over the latter. On the other hand, taking the chair in a reclining position by simply loosening the screws 41 and removing ones weight from the back the springs at the sides thereof will serve to elevate the back either to its full extent or until it meets with the back of the operator, when the screws may be retightened and the parts thus locked in position.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be seen that I have provided a chair of great simplicity and durability and capable of being produced at a very reasonable cost of manufacture, said chair being adapted for convenient and easy operation without the necessity of the occupant leaving the same for such purpose, and that the parts may be readily locked in any position desired. Also that I have provided a simple and conven= ient construction of foot-rest in which the rest proper may be elevated so as to meet the desire of the occupant as to the height or elevation for the feet; that the foot-rest is capable of being moved laterally at a desired angle to the chair; and that by sliding the foot-rest proper back upon its frame whereby it is automatically lowered, the same will readily slip under the chair. I

It will be understood that various changes as to the details of my invention will readily suggest themselves during the manufacture of the chair, and I therefore do not limit the invention to the precise details herein shown and described but hold that I may vary the same to any extent and degree within the knowledge persons conversant with the manufacture of such chairs or the skilled mechanic.

Having described my invention, what I claim is I 1. The combination with the base or platform comprising a central longitudinally-disposed slot or way, of a foot-rest frame provided at its outer end with supporting legs, a foot-rest carried by the frame, and a headed pin depending from the inner end of the foot-rest frame and taking through and engaging the sides of the slot or way, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a platform or base comprising a pair of centrally-located longitudinally-disposed rungs combined to form an intermediate slot, of a foot-rest frame, supports for the outer ends of the frame, a rest arranged on the frame, and a headed pin depending from the inner end of the rest, taking through the slots, and engaging the rungs, substantially as specified.

3. In a chair of the class described, the

nor faces are provided with declining grooves, 5 5

legs for the outer ends of the frame, rungs connecting the sides, a headed pin depending from the rear rung through the slot formed by the parallel rungs of the base, and a footrest having cleats upon its under side inelinedto correspond with the sides of the foot-rest frame, and a cross-piece secured to the cleats and having its ends engaging and adapted to move within the grooves of the sides of the foot-rest frame, substantially as specified.

5. In a chair of the class described, the combination with a base, a seat-frame, rockers secured to the seat-frame and resting on the base, and stationary arms secured to and rising from the seat -frame, of a back section pivoted to the seat-frame, a spring for normally throwing the back section forward, movable arms pivoted to the sides of the backsection and adapted to slide upon the stationary arms, and grooves formed in the under sides of the movable arms, rods rising from the stationary arms and taking into the grooves, and binding-screws passing through the movable arms and impinging upon the rods, sub stantially as specified.

6. In a chair of the class described, the combination with a base, a seat, rockers secured to the seat and mounted upon the base, stationary arms rising from the seat, and a back pivoted to the seat, of movable arms pivoted to the back and provided with grooves upon their under sides in which are located recesses, perforated metal blocks seated in the recesses, rods located in the blocks and having their terminals downwardly bent, the rear terminals being secured to the upper sides of the stationary arms, and the front terminals depending through openings formed in the stationary arms and provided with nuts, perforations formed in the outer sides of the blocks, and binding-screws passed through the perforations in the movable arms and thread ed in the perforations of said blocks, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JASPER M. AUSMAN.

Witnesses:

W. O. PRESCOTT, O. P. MILLER.

ICO 

